Volleyball Blacks Out GNAC Foes in Tri-Match Sweep

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College volleyball team swept a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) double feature on Friday, downing both Norwich University and Mount Ida College by scores of 3-0 despite a 50-minute power outage in the early stages of the third match.

In the middle match of the day, Mount Ida took a 3-0 win from the Cadets.

STREAK SNAPPING

ANNA MARIA 3, NORWICH 0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-21)

The AMCATS totaled 43 kills on a .284 hitting percentage to take the quick three-set match from the Cadets. Middle hitters Jessica Goulet (Lawrence, Mass.) and Telliah Bursie (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) both had monster games, totaling 10 kills each on .562 and .333 hitting percentages, respectively.

Goulet also added four blocks for the AMCAT defense, while Rebecca Foti (Bedford, N.H.) and Brittany Jackson (Larchmont, N.Y.) both totaled 13 digs.

Senior setter Samantha Parker (Athol, Mass.) dished out 34 assists and added 11 digs.

The Cadets were paced by Tara Lyons (Pocasset, Mass.) with 11 kills. Sophomore setter Katherine Crane (Avon, N.Y.) dished out 21 assists, while Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) tallied 11 digs.

The AMCAT victory brings the all-time series with the Cadets to 2-3. Anna Maria's other win came in conference play in 2013.

MOUNT IDA 3, NORWICH 0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-19)

The Mustangs held the Cadets to just 22 kills while tallying 43 of their own en route to the straight-set victory.

Kristy Walton (Fairhaven, Mass.) tallied a match-best 16 kills for Mount Ida, while Mary Kate Reidy (Agawam, Mass.) chipped in with 13. As a team, the Mustangs hit at 16.2 percent.

Mount Ida combined for 58 digs as a team, paced by Kelcey Koolman (Bedford, N.H.) with 18. Setter Taylor Davis (Machiasport, Maine) dished out 36 assists in the win.

The Cadets' offense was paced by Lyons, who finished with six kills. Crane dished out 17 assists, while Aled Ruediger (Sandy Lake, Pa.) totaled nine digs.

ANNA MARIA 3, MOUNT IDA 0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-12)

A capacity-crowd of nearly 400 people turned out for the AMCATS' match against the Mustangs, as the program honored five seniors playing in their final home game prior to tip-off. However, midway through the first set, the entire town of Paxton lost power, and the match was suspended for nearly 50 minutes.

When the lights came back on, the Mustangs took control and led for most of the set, including a 24-22 lead with match-point on the horizon. Following a kill by Goulet, she and Emily Adriaansen (Pepperell, Mass.) posted a monster block to even the score t0 24-24. The momentum in the set changed at that moment, and the AMCATS used three kills by Amari King (Lawrence, Mass.) to take the 27-25 victory.

Foti served four service aces and nine-straight serves to give Anna Maria an early 8-0 lead in the second set. The Mustangs fought back though, eventually evening the score at 16-16 and briefly holding a one-point lead at 18-17.

Mount Ida came as close as 21-21 but gave Anna Maria the next two points on attack errors. The AMCATS took advantage of the situation and held on for the 25-23 victory.

The third set was conducted in similar fashion, as the AMCATS opened with an early 7-1 lead. The Mustangs ran out of steam and Anna Maria ran away with the 25-12 win to seal the 3-0 match win.

The win marks the third-straight for Anna Maria in the series against Mount Ida. The AMCATS even the series at 5-5 dating back to the 1999 season.  

The Mustangs held advantages in kills and digs in the match, but the AMCATS scored 14 points on service aces and added seven points on blocks.

Foti recorded a match-high nine service aces, while Goulet finished the match with five solo blocks and one block-assist.

King recorded 11 kills for the AMCATS, while Parker dished out 21 assists.

The Mustangs were paced by Reidy with 16 kills and Walton with 13. Davis dished out 29 assists.